Combination lock



T. J. GRAY I 2,393,465

COMBINATION LOCK Filed July 19, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 I INVENTOR. 7710444.) J 6/24) ATTORNEY.

Jan. 22, 1946. 11 A 2,393,465

COMBINATION Locx Filed July 19, 1940, 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 77/0444; 1/ G/PAV ATTQRNEY.

36 on the bracket plate l1 behind the hook 2|) coacts with the rear end of the pin 24 to assist in forcing the disk 22 into the forward end of the bore 23 as the boss I9 is positioned and passed downwardly over the coacting hook.

It will thus be noted that it is impossible to remove the housing ID from the bracket books until the disk 22 i withdrawn from the hole 2| in the coacting hook, and this can be accomplished only by a pull applied to the head 26 of the pin, which of course is inaccessible except through the open receptacle, so that so long as the receptacle is closed it cannot be removed from the bracket. It will also be noted that so long as the receptacle is on thebracket the screws 8 which secure the bracket are inaccessible and the bracket cannot therefore be removed from its support. Access to the screws is further prevented by pillars 3| carried by the ends of the bosses In at opposite sides of the rear of the housing.

The combination lock for releasably securing the cover M of the receptacle |2 inclosed position will now be described. The lock is contained within the lower housing compartment l3 and coacts with the rods |5 to secure the cover against unauthorized removal.

In this instance the interior of the compartment I3 is divided by a plurality of horizontal partition disks 32, each threaded upon a central shaft 33 which supports a lower relatively thick closure disk 34. Each of the disks 32 are perforated to accommodate a pair of vertical rods 35 which extend from the partition I to the closure disk 34, and each is also slotted to accommodate a vertical cam bar 36 hereinafter described. The central shaft 33 extends downwardly through the partition II from a disk 31 above the partition II and enters a central boss 38 in the lower closure disk 34 with which it is in screw threaded engagement. The disk 31, and consequently-the shaft 33, are releasably retained against rotation by extension of the rods l5 through the disk 31, and the closure disk 34 is retained against rotation by apin H1 in the housingengaged in a groove 34' in the disk 34.

The uppermost partition disk 32,is separated from the partition [I by a spacer sleeve 39 on the central shaft 33 and a latch plate 40 is slidably confined th'erebetween. Thelatch plate 40 is urged toward the cam bar 36 by a compression spring 4|, which bears against an upstanding lug 42 on the plate, the latch plate being guided by slots 43 which coact with the rods 35 for that purpose. 1

The latch plate 46 is also provided with openings 44 through which the tapered ends 45 of-the cover securin rods |5 are projected when the cover I4 is applied to the receptacle I2, and when thus projected the latch plate 40 engages annular grooves 46 in the rods 5 to normally look the rods against withdrawal. The latch plate 40 is further provided with a relatively shallow slot 41 to accommodate the upper reduced end 36' of the cam bar 36, the latter having an inclined edge portion 48 which, when the bar 36 is elevated, reacts against the base ofthe slot 41 to force the latch plate 40 toward the right (Figs. 4 and 5) i a manner to disengage the grooves 46 and thereby release the rods |5and permit removal of the cover l4. A leaf spring 49, confined at one end between the spacer sleeve 39 and the partition II, and bearing at its other end against a pin 50 on the bar 36, yieldably retains the latter in the depressed position shown in Fig. 4, Agindicated in Fig. 4 the under side of the partition H is cut away to accommodate the compression spring 4|, lug 42, leaf spring 49, and bar 36.

In the device shown, the cam bar 36 may be forced upwardly, to retract the latch plate 46 and thereby release the cover l4 and its retainer rods I5, by means which will now be described. The mechanism for this purpose comprises an inclined arcuate cam 5| rotatably seated upon a disk 52 resiliently. supported by a coil spring 53 surrounding the central boss 38 on the lower closure disk 34. The disk 52 is slotted to accommodate the reduced lower end 54 of the cam bar 36 and is perforated to accommodate the vertical rods 35 by which it is retained against rotation.

The integral hub 55 of the arcuate cam 5| is provided on its upper face with an annular set of V-shaped teeth 56 which mesh with a mating set of teeth on the under face of a superposed ring 51. Seated upon the ring 51 is a collar 58, substantially like that shown at 13 inFig. 7, having stop pins 52' carried by the disk a circular series of depending lugs 59, which extend through appropriate slots in the ring 51 to form a driving connection therewith, and'which also engage the inner periphery of the hub 55 to center the latter. The collar 58 is also provided with a circular series of upstanding lugs 60 for interlocking engagement with lugs 6| projecting radially from the ring shaped head 62 of an operating lever 64 like that of the lever 12 shown in Fig.7. -This assembly of lever 64, collar 58, ring 51, and the hub 55 of cam 5| are centered by and rotatable about a spacer sleeve 63 which also serves as a separator between the lowermost partition disk 32 and the fixed closure'disk 34. The lever 64 extends outwardly fromthe sleeve 63 through the lowermost of a series of slots 65 formedin the wall of the housing 0.

The arrangement is such that when'the lever 64 is swung counterclockwise (Fig. 9) the collar '58 and ring 51 are thereby rotated and the coacting teeth 56, between the ring 51 and hub 55, urge the cam 5| to rotate in the same direction. The cam 5| when rotated in that direction reacts against a shoulder 66 on the barv 36' to urge the latter upwardly. However, if the bar 36 is restrained against upward movement, byany of the tumblers hereinafter described or otherwise, the ring 51 and its supporting disk 52 yield downwardly against the pressure of the spring 53 thereby permitting the mating rows ofteeth 56 to separate and thus permit the lever 64, collar 58 and ring 51 to swing or rotate with respect to the cam 5|. In this way the parts are protected against damage that might otherwise result from forcing or jamming the parts. The arcuate swing of the cam 5| is preferably limited by appropriate Provision is preferably made for preventing unauthorized access to the part just described. This is accomplished by the use 01' a disk shield 61 supported upon an appropriate annular shoulder provided on the. collar 58. This disk 61 is slotted to accommodate the cam; bar 33 and the rods 35. Several of such disks 61 are employed in the lock shown, each being spaced from the adjacent partition disk 32 by afragmentary disk 68 substantially like that shown in Fig. 10. Each fragmentary disk 68 is preferably the same thickness as the adjacent operating lever so as to insure free swingingactionof the lever between the adjacent partition disk 32 Y and shielding disk 61.

The cam bar 36 is guided for vertical movement by appropriate slots formed in the partitiom'al t :andnclosure dishes the upper amt lowenzredu'ced=:ends sesame-54 :are closelyw slidabl'yl' engaged-.. Aszpluralityx of;.:f51otgz 69:: ro. videdazin zthe' rinner: edge, 'of t'theibar. I 36 are Lois-' merit of the bar ":36 upwardst intciuurrlocking posi tio'na: Y

Inathewlock showm eachi ofcthe several'tumblots comprises a rotatable" :disle having a slot 1 I :its perphery adapted to :clearthe -=in'neredge otthe bar 36 :in one particular rotative position' Of thG-tUmbJEP. Each tumfloler issepa'rately z aotuate'd 'and controlled by a lever 12,? interlocked in driving relation with a collar 13 (Fiat- 7 llf-tl'li manner hereinabove described. 1% Each- 001- T i, which constitutes 1 a separator 'between--'-ad-' jacent partition disks 3?, andeachcollarz'lii seated upon a tumbler-"dish" 10" and hase'a re: GLlCBd'ilOWSI qjortion 15=- having a close rotating lit -Within =a -centralopening16 in the tumbler disk to' centei'whelatter;-=- Each collar'13' is pro vided with depending lugs- 593'which engage in slots"1T"provicled'- in *a ring 1$ 11p0n Whichthe adjacent--tunmhler-- dish =10 rests; Each ring 18 is thus conne cted-- torotate with its associated collar =13. Each ring--"lwis rotatable uponthe 5 associated spa'cersleeve 14 1 and rests upon one of the' partitiondi'sks fi? Each ring-18 ={is -pro vided on its upper face Witli -amannular series of V Sha-pe'd 'teeth' 80 which mesh 'with a mating set of teeth 8| orr the *bottomof the associatedtumbler disk lflr a j 3y the assemblyjust describedfieachtumbler- H3 may be positively rotate'd hy'manipulation 'of its "actuating lever 12 to accurately align the slo't 'I i m thetumblerwith the edge-of-the' canrbar-- 35,- and. when the slots '1 l "iri*all of the+tumblers are thus aligned the cam bar- 36 may -beelevatedin the" manner hereinaib'ovedescribed' to release or 'open'thelockfi" Inmrcle'r "to guide one in rotatably' adjustin 7: each-tumbler to'the' position-desiredy=each tum bier" l B ismreferably "provided vvith an -indexing mechanism which, in'the lock shown, comprises aperipheral series'of v shaped ratchet teeth 82 '60 with which a'pair'of pawls 83- coact to accurately position the tumbler in its several rotative posi' tions. As indicated particularly in Fi'grd'feach pawl. shown is rockab lysupported at one end-on"- one ofithe rods35 and carries" at its other end a pinl'e adapted to'engage between successive teeth of the tumbler."' The pins 84fof: both pawl's' areyieldably urged toward the teeth by approepriate spring leaves 85? eazch sujpportedat one end upon one ofv the rods'35 Eandbearingatits. 0

other end'againstthe interior of the housing 10'.- Actuation of the lever 12' thus: effects steplay step rotation ofyits' associated tumblerp and the" clicking sound of the; pins ;84 '.ag'ainst the-teeth," provides an audible indication ofthe advance '.6 of the tum bler from one position to the. next?- This arrangement, together with' appropriate scale markings 86 on the exterior'xof; ftheh'ous ing 7 19, corresponding to successive positions of? each tumbler and its. actuating lever I2, are of great assistance ,in adjusting, the various tum= blers to the positions desired.'

In thisinstance ,an arrow 81; or other appro' priate--mark;;on,leach tumbler lever""l2fis"posi tioned to register with one of the line markings pose'dito rcleanithe ssevera'lxtumblers H1 :whem-thes 5 5 v V a possible lam- 13 1s=rotatahl5 mounted upomaspacer sleeve 20" mally securely restrained against separatiom-bemetr eauy; spaced cam blocks 89 formed on the permo'st one;

of: theascaie'w Rain; each: rotativeriposition- 101; the tumblen andeitsdelvert ltLLWillE.banoted 'that .in theeldckshown; thelengthfiof -ieachi'smt 65 'Jis such'fiasto permit eachle'ver- 1 2 to-swing through thinteenmpcsiticns: numbered ironr -O to 12 successively; It'will of course be understoodthat' when anv parti'cular one-of the five tumblers shevm is iri-"a position-' suchthat its slot 'll is aligj'ned with the edge'of thecam bar 3ii, actuating leverl Tmay Joe inany=partici1lar oneof thethirteen positio'hs just mentioned-, and the particular positions of the -five levers 12," which will align the slots! l of their' respective tumblers with -the-edge ofthe' bar 36 constitutes the particular; =combination which I will permit" releasing or opening 'of the soon Provision is made for varying -this 1 particular comhinatibnat the will of the user. Thisis 'made "the inclusion of' an*adjustalolie =con'-- nectio'n *b etween ealoh lever '12 and its' associated tumbler, -10fwhich" will permit relative rotative adjiistment therebetweengand inthe lock shown the toasting 'rows of- -V-shape d teeth 8B -and- 8 I betweenteach: ring :18 and-tumbler 10 provide" suchia :connection." These-rows of teeth are nor:

cause eachassembhi of ring 18, tumbler-10, and, collar IE/is confined-betweensuccessive partitions, disks 3Z."which .iare' "normally held against; sep aration in; a manner' about to; he described,.-'but which maybe: released to permit 'sepa'rationrofthe .teeth and "consequentrotative adjustment" betweenuany ring JSY'and .tumbler 16.. I -Me'cl'uinism for thus releasably 're'taining' J the. several partition idisksifl against separation may; ofhbourse assume-various .forms, but in the lock. shhwnr itli comprises a centrally:disposedscam. block188 formed on the {upper face of one of the partitionIdi'sks32'and coacting witha pair of dijaa undehsidenf aizcollar, .90 which is'rotatable about t i thegshaftifi ,andbears against the under side of themppermost pantition di'ski32 The collar as" i isiaetiiated jand lcontrollejdby a .lever 9l,"simila1';

' extends .outwardlyr thitollg ftheuupperrnost slot 65in the housing lfi andlis' interlocked withithe collar in exactly. the same manner that the levers and 12 are interlocked withtheir respective collars 53 and 13"."

With 'the lever 9 l intheffi? position at one end of fit'sgslott5'fthe Glla r 90 assumesithe positionshown ,on Fig. & in" hichposition the cam blocks ea "bean against the cams :block ,88 and effect at definite spacing betweenthe two upper partition disk. 32 and, 'when thus arranged, the cam blocks 88 and. 89 cooperatewith the several spacer sleeves 3S, 14","and "33"to1 ,positivelyposition-a1l"of the partition disks 32am to eliminate all unnecessary loioseness or, slack Withinthe several tumbler assembliesiincluded therebetween. By swinging the lever 9| to-the other. endof its slot,'however, the collar QO-istherebyI tated into'a position where the'canr'blocks B9 clearthe cam block Eilgand all of ithe seyeral" partitions disk 7 3 2 ,"except the 'upe" arethen-free to rise under the liftingthi'ust of the'spring fifi-"through 'a clistance equal'tothe thickness of the carnblo'ck 881 andalh of the partitions disks32fth'us become yieldabl y supported-by the spring'g53andanyof them maybe' depress'ed' against 'the'upward-thrust 0fthespring-53's The lever 91% and collar 90 arerotatedintotheiposition dust described, preparatory to changing-the locle combina tion'by relative adjustmenh'btween' the levers- 12 and-their "respectivetumblers.

This adjustment can be made only when the cam bar 39 is elevated into the lock releasing position. Until thus elevated, the bar 36 engages a slot 93 in a disk 92 carried by the collar 90 and prevents rotation of the latter into the position last described; but when thus elevated, a slot 94 in the bar 36 clears the disk 92 and releases the collar 90 for rotation. Also, when the bar 36 is with the edge of the bar 36 to thereby clear the bar. Then the bar 36 is elevated into lock releasing position by swinging the lever 64 counterclockwise (Fig. 9) into the far end of its slot 65, as hereinabove described. This looks the several tumblers against rotation and releases the disk 92, so that the collar 90 can be rotated by manipulation of its lever 9|. When the collar 90 has been rotated into a position where the cams 89 clear the cam 88 and thus render the several partition plates 32 relatively vertically moveable, the lock is then in a condition to make possible the adjustment of each tumbler lever 12 relative to its tumbler I0. That is to say, in that condition of the lock each of the several tumblers 19 are locked against rotation by the bar 36, and the levers 12 of any of them may be swung to any new positions desired to obtain the new combination desired, the ring 18 beneath each tumbler H! being free to yield downwardly with its supporting disk 32 in a manner to permit the mating sets of teeth 80 and BI to clear each other and thus permit the associated lever 12, collar 13, and ring 18 to rotate with respect to associated tumbler 10. When the new combination has thus been established, the lever 9| is finally returned to its initial position,

thereby rotating the collar 90 back to the position shown in Fig. 4, in which position the cams 89 again bear against the cam 88 and again render the several partition disks 32 immovable. The new combination is thus fixed.

Provision is also made in the lock shown, for finding a forgotten or lost combination preferably by use of a formula, schedule, or chart peculiar to the particular lock and known only to the owner of the look. This provision is of great importance in the use of a lock of the type described wherein so many different combinations are available and wherein the combination may be so readily changed from time to time.

In the lock shown, this is accomplished in the following manner. A series of vertically aligned perforations 95 are provided in the several partition disks 32, shield disks 61, and fragmentary To find a lostcombination, all of'the tumbler levers 72 are positioned in the 0" position on the scale 86, and the end of the needle 91, removed from' the pillar 3|, is projected upwardly through the several aligned perforations 95, each tumbler disk being in turn rotatably advanced stepby step by advance of its lever 12 from the zero position, until one of the perforations 96 therein has been aligned and the needle 91 projected upwardly through all of the tumblers. By this method the needle of course serves as a guide in bringing all of the tumblers into certain predetermined positions with the slot H of each tumbler either coincident with or a predetermined distance away from the edge of the bar 36, de-

pendent upon the position of the perforation 96 with respect to the slot H in each particular tumbler.

Thereafter, by the use of a table based upon the definitepositional relation between the perforations 96 and slot H in each of the tumblers of the particular lock, it becomes a simple matter to compute how many steps each tumbler must be turned from the position established by the needle 91 in order to align the slot H of each tumbler with the bar 36, and in each instance that number of steps corresponds to the number of points on the scale 86 through which the lever 12 of each tumbler must be shifted from the position established by the needle in order to align the slots H of theseveral tumblers with the bar 36, andthe positions to which the several levers must be thus shifted of course correspond to those of the lost combination.

It will be noted that the range of movement of each of the several levers 12 is limited to the thirteen positions "0 to 12 on the scale 86, all comprised within a limited arc materially less than 180 and, because of this limited range of movement, it is sometimes impossible to bring one of the perforations 96 in a tumbler disk within the range of the projected needle. Because of this, two perforations 96 are placed in each tum bler disc in suohpositions that, if one cannot be brought into the range of the needle the other can. In the lock shown, the two perforations 96 in each tumbler are spaced apart an arcuate distance, measured in degrees, equal to the arouate swing of the lever 12 or, in other words, the two perforations 96 are spanned by a series of thirteen teeth 82 on the tumbler which corresponds in number to the thirteen lever positions represented by the thirteen markings on the scale 86.

With the two perforations 96 thus spaced, it

A makes little practical difference through which of disks 68, and also in the disk 52 and closure disk 34, these perforations being relatively arranged to permit threading a straight narrow instrument, such as a wire needle, therethrough. One and preferably two perforations 96 are provided in each of the tumbler disks 1!], so positioned that one Or the other may be brought into alignment with the aligned perforations 95 in the non-rotating disks. A needle 91 for this purpose is also provided which, for convenience, is housed within one of the hollow pillars 3| and carried by a removable plug 98, screw threaded into the upper end of the latter.

them the needle is entered in searching for the lost combination. For instance, after the needle has been entered through one of the perforation-s99 and the chart and computations for that particular tumbler indicate that its lever 12 should be advanced in one direction a certain number of steps, the limited range of movement of the lever mayor may not permit such advance, dependent upon which of the two holes 95 had been entered by the needle. If it does permit such advance, such advance will bring the lever into its position in the lost" combination; if not, retraction of the lever in the opposite direction .through a number of steps, equal to thirteen minus the number of steps in the prescribed advance, will bring the lever into its position in the lost combination.

It will thus be noted that in the event that the particular combination of lever positions that is required to release the lock should be forgotten, it may be readily found by the use of the needle and chart associated with that particular lock in the manner above described.

It will also be noted that without knowledge of the. particular combination, it is impossible to open the lock, because to do so requires that all 'five tumblers it must be positioned with their slots 1| in alignment with the bar 36 before the latter can be elevated to retract or release the latch plate 49, and-all of the tumblers and the latch plate are hidden from view and are absolutely inaccessible. Of the thirteen possible positions for each of the five levers 12, there is only one position of each which will so positionits connected tumbler as to align the slot H thereof with the bar 36. And this particular position of each of the five levers 12 cannot be ascertained by experiment but only by the method and means above described requiring special knowledge of the particular lock.

In order to baffle unauthorized effort to open the lock by trial or experiment, the lower edges of the slots 69 in the bar 36 are cut away to permitlimited upward movement of the bar 36 when the slots H of the several tumblers are not aligned therewith, and also to form shallow shoulders 99 adapted to enter between successive teeth 82 of the adjacent tumblers and thereby look all of the tumblers against rotation when the bar is thus elevated. It is of course understood that this limited upward movement of the bar is insuflicient to release the lock and, when thus elevated, the bar locks all of the tumblers against rotation and thus prevents attempted adjustment thereof in an eflfort to align their slots II with the bar.

It will thus be noted that a lock has been provided which is proof against opening except by one having knowledge of the particular combination of lever positions necessary to effect opening, a lock in'which the combination may be readily varied at will, and in which a forgotten combination, may be readily discovered b one possessing the formula peculiar to the particular lock. 7

A look having these characteristics has particueral individuals, each to the exclusion of the others, since each may use a particular combination not known to the others. Moreover, a

receptacle combined with a, lock of the character described may be used as a medium for transmitting private papers or valuable articles from 7 one individual to another, by depositing the item in the receptacle, setting the lock for any particular combination, and giving to the recipient lar utility when structurally combined with a receptacle in the manner described in that it makes possible the private use of the receptacle by sevknowledge of that combination so as to render the item available to him. After such a transaction has been completed, the combination can be readily changed to prevent further access to the receptacle.

The lock shown in Fig. 11 is identical with that hereinabove described except that it is embodied in a padlock having a conventional hasp I00 having legs which correspond structurally and functionally with the rods l5 hereinabove mentioned. t I

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a combination lock the combination of a member moveable to release the look, a plurality of tumblers associated therewith to control lock releasing movement thereof, tumbler actuating means moveable into a particular combination of positions to' permit lock releasing movement of said member, and means effective during locked condition of the lock for ascertaining the particular combination of positions of said actuating means which will permit lock releasing movement of said member.

2. In a combination lock the combination of a member moveable to release the look, a plurality of tumblers associated therewith to control lock releasing movement of said member, tumbler actuating means moveable into a particular combination of positions to permit lock releasing movement of said member, and additional means effective during locked condition of the lock for positioning said tumblers in predetermined positions without regard to the positions of said actuating means.

THOMAS J. GRAY. 

